the Count de Wurmbrandt; a Vice-President, who is the Count de Metsch; and of eighteen Counsellors, among whom there must be six Protestants, and of these one must be a Calvinist. This Tribunal judges of all Civil Causes between the Princes and private Men of the Empire. Its Authority terminates with the Emperor's Life; and 'tis on this account only that the supreme Tribunal of Wetzlar, which subsists even during the Vacancy of the Imperial Throne, challenges Precedence of the Aulic Council. 'Tis a Mistake to think, as many Foreigners do, that the Aulic Council takes Cognizance of Affairs of State; for its sole Business is to do Justice: It registers no Edict unless it be its own Sentences[108]; and is much more limited than the Parliaments of France, which have at least the Privilege of losing Time in Remonstrances.
I perceive too that I am in a fair way to make you lose a great deal, if I don't put an end to my Legend; which therefore I now do, and refer the rest of the Remarks that I have to entertain you with to another Post.
I kiss your Hand, and am, &c.
LETTER XIII.
SIR,Vienna, Decem. 10, 1729.
There are some other Articles which I cannot but add to those I have already given you from Vienna. The Police of this City is administer'd by a Stadtholder. The Person that now fills that Post is the Count de Kehvenhuller; who is also a Minister of State, and Knight of the Golden Fleece. His Functions are the same with those of the Lieutenant of the Police at Paris, and nothing makes the Difference but the Title; only it must be observ'd that the Stadtholder is always a Person of noble Extraction, and a Gentleman of the Army, whereas the Lieutenant of the Police at Paris is often of mean Extraction, but always a Gentleman of the long Robe.